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Structure and function of immunoglobulin genes and immunoglobulin precursors.

To gain information on the origin of antibody diversity (somatic mutation or germ line hypothesis) it is necessary to determine the number of V region genes. For this purpose the capacity of a distinct V region probe to hybridize and quantify V genes of the same and different subgroups should be established. Relevant information on this issue was obtained from the extent of cross-hybridization of a distinct L chain cDNA with mRNAs coding for L chains of the same and different subgroups. The results indicated that: (1) V regions of similar amino acid sequence are coded by similar nucleotide sequence (this is not self-evident because of the degeneracy of the genetic code); (2) the nucleic acid probe to one V region may anneal and quantify V genes of members of the same subgroup. Molecular hybridizations of the cDNA probe with nuclear DNA showed that: (1) the number of kappa type C genes is small (about 2 per haploid genome); (2) the number of V genes presumably is also small; (3) there is no amplification of these genes in myeloma cells that produce large amounts of the Ig. These results support the somatic mutation model for the generation of antibody diversity. New information on the structure and controlled expression of Ig genes was obtained from the study of L chain precursors, which are the immediate product of L chain mRNA translation in vitro. In the precursors extra peptide segments (19-22 residues in length) precede the N-terminus of the mature L chain. Amino acid sequence analyses of the precursors provide evidence that: (1) the gene coding for the V region is larger than hitherto known; (2) duplication of a short DNA segment occurred in the structural gene coding for the MOPC-321 precursor; (3) translation of the L chain mRNA may be contingent on the nucleotide sequence coding for the extra piece; (4) cleavage of the extra piece may regulate secretion of mature L chain; (5) the extra piece is remarkably hydrophobic, suggesting that the role of the extra piece is to anchor the precursor in cell membranes, in a manner similar to the function of the "hydrophobic domain" of membrane bound proteins. We propose that most precursor molecules are directed to the endoplasmic reticulum where the extra piece is cleaved to yield mature Ig destined for secretion; a few precursor molecules escape cleavage and are anchored by means of the hydrophobic extra piece in the cell-surface membrane to serve as the antigen-recognizing receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1976

Analysis of immunoglobulin genes: DNA/RNA hybridization with immunoglobulin kappa-chain mRNA and isolation and translation of hybridized RNA.

Immunoglobulin kappa-chain mRNA was hybridized with DNA in order to assess the kappa-gene frequency. Kappa-mRNA was purified from membrane-bound ribosomes of mouse myeloma MOPC-41 by poly (U) chromatography and isolation of a 13S RNA by successive sucrose density gradient centrifugations. The RNA coded for kappa-chain precursor molecules in cell-free protein synthesis and essentially no other proteins. MOPC-41 kappa-mRNA hybridized with MOPC-41, MPC-11, and Krebs DNA with the same kinetics: the majority of the hybrids was formed with rare or unique DNA sequences (Cot/2 450 to 900), a small portion with highly repetitive sequences (Cot/2 5--6). The slow hybrids were well matched and the rapid hybrids were mismatched by about 4%, regardless of the DNA used. It was further investigated whether the rapid hybrids contained translatable kappa-mRNA or were due to impurities in the RNA preparations. Kappa-mRNA and globin-mRNA (as an internal standard for a unique transcript) were hybridized with DNA to Cot 20 or 48, the hybridized and unhybridized RNA were isolated by hydroxyopatite-urea chromatography and, after removal of the DNA, translated in a cell-free system. The cell-free products were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoprecipitation. It was found that approximately equal quantities of translatable kappa- and globin-mRNA were hybridized maximally 1.7%). The results do not support the hypothesis that kappa-mRNA is a transcript of both repetitive and unique DNA sequences.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Evidence for somatic rearrangement of immunoglobulin genes coding for variable and constant regions.

A high-molecular-weight DNA from Balb/c mouse early embryo or from MOPC 321 plasmacytoma (a k-chain producer) was digested to completion with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain H restriction enzyme (BamH I). The resulting DNA fragments were fractionated according to size in preparative agarose gel electrophoresis. DNA fragments carrying gene sequences coding for the variable or constant region of k chains were detected by hybridization with purified, 125I-labeled, whole MOPC 321 K MRNA and with its 3'-end half. The pattern of hybridization was completely different in the genomes of embryo cells and of the plasmacytoma. The pattern of embryo DNA showed two components, one of which (molecular weight=6.0 million) hybridized with C-gene sequences and the other (molecular weight=3.9 million) with V-gene sequences. The pattern of the tumor DNA showed a single component that hybridized with both V-gene and C-gene sequences and that is smaller (molecular weight=2.4 million) than either of the components in embryo DNA. The results were interpreted to mean that the Vk and Ck genes, which are some distance away from each other in the embryo cells, are joined to form a contiguous polynucleotide stretch during differentiation of lymphocytes. Such joining occurs in both of the homologous chromosomes. Relevance of these findings with respect to models for V-C gene joining, activation of a specific V k gene, and allelic exclusion in immunoglobulin gene loci is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Immunoglobulin genes in DNA restriction fragments.

We have investigated the organization of immunoglobulin genes in mice. High molecular weight DNA from myelomas and Krebs ascites cells was cleaved with EcoRI restriction endonuclease and fractionated using preparative agarose gel electrophoresis. Each fraction was then hybridized to an immunoglobulin mRNA or a cDNA transcribed from the mRNA. In two series of experiments, one with a kappa chain probe (MOPC 41 mRNA), the other with a lambda chain probe (SAPC 178 mRNA), we analyzed a variety of myeloma DNAs and Krebs DNA. In contrast to previously reported findings (Tonegawa, S., et al. (1976) Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 41, 877), we did not observe any unique restriction map pattern in the DNA from cells which exress a given immunoglobulin gene. We also found that restriction fragments containing c region genes do not appear to transpose, while DNA sequences corresponding to other portions of the kappa and lambda mRNAs do in some cases.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Electron microscope analysis of mouse and rabbit globin and immunoglobulin gene sequences.

Mouse and rabbit globin and immunoglobulin gene sequences, which had been synthesized in vitro from eukaryotic mRNAs and inserted into plasmids, have been examined in the electron microscope. The size of the inserted beta rabbit and alpha and beta mouse globin DNA sequences has been estimated as 620 base pairs while the size of the inserted alpha rabbit globin DNA sequences was found to be about 490 base pairs. Heteroduplex analysis has revealed no structural abnormalities at the insertion sites of the chimeric plasmids except in the case of a plasmid containing an immunoglobulin light chain gene sequence of about 830 bases, in which 3 kb deletion adjacent to the insertion site was observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Organization of immunoglobulin genes.

The nucleotide-sequence determination of a cloned, embryonic Vlambda gene directly demonstrated that V genes are separate from a corresponding C gene in embryonic cells. Analysis by restriction enzymes of total cellular DNA from various sources strongly suggested that the two separate immunoglobulin genes become continuous during differentiation of B lymphocytes. There seems to be a strict correlation between the joining event and activation of the joined genes. Cloning of more immunoglobulin genes from embryo and plasma cells will not only provide direct demonstration of such a gene-joining event but also help in the elucidation of a possible relationship of the event to gene activation mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

The preferential codon usages in variable and constant regions of immunoglobulin genes are quite distinct from each other.

The pattern of codon utilization in the variable and constant regions of immunoglobulin genes are compared. It is shown that, in these regions, codon utilizations are quite distinct from one another: For most degenerate codons, there is a selective bias that prefers C and/or G ending codons to U and/or A ending codons in the constant region compared with the bias in the variable region. This would strongly suggest that, in immunoglobulin genes, the bias in code word usage is determined by other factors than those concerning with the translational mechanism such as tRNA availability and codon-anticodon interaction. A possibility is also suggested that this differance of code word usage between them is due to the existence of secondary structure in the constant region but not in the variable region.

Anticodon↗
PubMed1979

A kappa-immunoglobulin gene is formed by site-specific recombination without further somatic mutation.

The active gene for a kappa light chain is formed by a somatic recombination event that joins one of several hundred variable region genes to one of a series of recombination sites (J-segments) encoded close to the kappa constant region gene. The nucleotide sequences of cloned germ line and somatically recombined genes define the precise organisation of these genetic segments and the site and nature of the recombination event that joined them. Apart from somatic recombination, no further alteration of ther germ line sequence has occurred. The J-segment is of special interest as it encodes signals for both DNA and RNA splicing and provides a means of generating further immunoglobulin gene diversity.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Immunochemical isolation of gamma-globulin mRNA and estimation of immunoglobulin gene reiteration.

The polyribosomes synthesizing gamma-globulin have been isolated by the achievement of specific precipitation using bentonite-treated anti-IgG antibody. The RNA extracted from the immunochemically precipitated polysomes was tested for its ability to direct the synthesis of proteins in a cell-free system. The specific gamma-globulin-synthesizing activity (cpm of gamma-globulin synthesized/microgram RNA) of this RNA was 10-fold greater than that from total polysomes. gamma-globulin mRNA (messenger RNA) isolated by immunoprecipitation was more than 89% pure with respect to contamination by other species of mRNA. The products synthesized by the cell-free system were also analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulphate(SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This RNA has been hybridized with mouse myeloma DNA. The estimation of immunoglobulin gene reiteration was carried out using hybridization kinetics with consideration given to the DNA/RNA ratio since the estimation from the "half Cot value" is not accurate. The results suggest that in the mouse there are about 20 copies per subgroup of genes coding for the variable region of the H and L chains.

Alleles↗
PubMed1977

On the location of palindromes in immunoglobulin genes.

We present a statistical method for detection of palindromes in mRNA or DNA, starting from the protein sequence. Analysis of immunoglobulin genes by this method demonstrates that palindromic sequences are not randomly distributed. They are located at each side of the hypervariable regions in the variable (V) genes, whereas no such regular design is observed in the constant (C) genes. In addition, palindromic sequences overlap the V-C junction in all immunoglobulin classes and significant palindromes are present near residue 216 of the heavy chain, which is the end of deletions in many heavy chain diseases. The relevance of these palindromes to gene translocation and generation of diversity in antibodies is discussed.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1975

Mouse immunoglobulin genes: studies on the reiteration frequency of light-chain genes by hybridisation procedures.

The partially purified immunoglobulin light chain messenger RNA fraction from P3K (MOPC 21) mouse myeloma tissue-culture cells has been employed in hybridisation studies. Fragments of the messenger RNA were generated by alkali hydrolysis. 6-S fragments not containing poly(A) showed the characteristic biphasic hybridisation profile seen with the intact RNA fraction. 12-S and 6-S poly(A)-containing fragments, however, showed single transitions lacking the rapidly hybridising component. Complementary DNA copies of the intact messenger RNA fraction were prepared with RNA-dependent DNA polymerase and the DNA populations fractionated on acrylamide gels. Hybridisation experiments with complementary DNA fractions up to 800 bases in length showed annealing to single (or a few) genes. A rapidly hybridising component (about 200 copies) appears in the cDNA fraction containing the largest transcripts. We conclude that the kappa constant region gene and the MOPC 21 variable region gene are present as one or a few copies in the haploid genome and that the rapidly hybridising component is not due to variable region genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Normal and altered phenotypic expression of immunoglobulin genes.

Genetically controlled intraspecific differences between immunoglobulins (allotypes) provide valuable markers for the study of the quantitative expression of allelic and nonallelic alternative forms of immunoglobulins (Igs) during the normal development of rabbits. Heterozygous rabbits are mosaics of cells expressing different Ig-genes since fully differentiated productive cells generally secrete only one of alternative forms of Ig. The proportions of cells that differentiate to produce allelic forms of immunoglobulins during normal development depend on the particular heterozygous genotype. The normal proportions of some markers can be drastically altered if the differentiation of lymphoid cells in the young rabbit occurs in the milieu of antibody specific for one form (allotype suppression). An initiating step in the establishment of persistent allotype suppression is probably the interaction of antiallotype antibody with allotype-bearing receptors on lymphoid cell surfaces, but the mechanism for the maintenance of a state of chronic suppression may well be more complex. Allotype suppression can be viewed as one example of numerous immunological phenomena that reflect specific and finely tuned regulatory mechanisms governing the differentiation and clonal expansion of lymphoid cells destined to secrete immunoglobulins.

Alleles↗
PubMed1978

A complete immunoglobulin gene is created by somatic recombination.

Using a pCRI plasmid containing an enzymatically synthesized, full-length DNA transcript of immunoglobulin lambda chain mRNA as the hybridization probe in the Southern gel blotting experiments (Southern, 1975), we identified three DNA fragments of 8.6, 4.8 and 3.5 kb in Eco RI-digested total DNA from BALB/c mouse embryos. A fourth fragment of 7.4 kb was found in addition to these three fragments in similarly digested total DNA from a lambda chain-secreting myeloma (HOPC 2020). We have cloned the four DNA fragments in an EK-2 phage vector, lambdaWES, and characterized them with respect to size, type of lambda gene sequences contained and position of these sequences in the fragments, using agarose gel electrophoresis, the gel blotting technique and electron microscopic R loop mapping. The embryonic DNA clones Ig 99 lambda, Ig 25lambda and Ig 13lambda contain one copy each of V lambdaI, C lambdaI and V lambdaII sequences, respectively, while the myeloma DNA clone Ig 303lambda contains one copy each of V lambdaI and C lambdaI sequences that are separated by a 1.2 kb nontranslated DNA segment. Ig 25lambda was also shown to contain a DNA segment of approximately 40 base pairs (bp) (J sequence) that lies 1.2 kb away from the C lambdaI sequence and is homologous to the V-C junction region of a lambdaI mRNA. Heteroduplex analysis of the three lambdaI DNA clones revealed that Ig 303lambda DNA is composed of two parts, one of which is entirely homologous to one end of Ig 99lambda, and the other to one end of Ig 25lambda DNA. The sequence arrangement observed in the cloned DNA is the same as that in the corresponding cellular DNA. This was shown by identifying certain restriction enzyme cleavage sites on the cloned DNAs and demonstrating the presence of these sites in the total cellular DNA by the gel blotting technique. The site of the homology switch is at the boundary of the V sequence and the 1.2 kb nontranslated DNA segment, and corresponds to the position of the J sequence on the Ig 25lambda DNA. We consider the above experimental results the most direct evidence for somatic rearrangement in immunoglobulin genes. We discuss the significance of these findings for the origin of genes in the evolution of higher organisms and in cell differentiation.

Animals↗